Collapsible holder for mops



Jan. 10, 1961 J. T. SHORT coLLAPsIBLE HOLDER FOR Mops 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 25, 1958 INVENTOR Joe Z' Jlwlfl gm wm MMM ATTORNEYS Jan. 10, 1961 J. T. sYHoRT coLLAPsIBLE HOLDER FOR MoPs 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25, 1958 INV ENTOR Joe Z 45T/lat ATTORNEYS United States Patent C) COLLAPSIBLE HOLDER FOR MOPS Joe T. Short, West Point, Ga., assignor to Callaway Mills Company, La Grange, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Filed Nov. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 776,226

4 Claims. (Cl. 15-147) The present invention relates to a collapsible holder for mops of the type in which the mop fabric has opposed pockets on its upper surface. Fabric mops of this type have been used heretofore and the present invention is concerned with improvements in the construction of the holder for such mops.

The structure of the invention may be briefly described as comprising a pair of wing members having their inner ends rotatably mounted on a central shaft. The first of the wing members is a rigid, generally rectangular,

open framework. The second of the wing members is generally U-shaped and resilient. A novel latching mechanism is provided for locking the wing members in positions extending outwardly from the shaft. In these outwardly extending positions, the wing members are received in the pockets of the mop fabric. The latching mechanism may be released to permit the wing members to swing downwardly about the central shaft so that the mop fabric will drop therefrom without the necessity of the user touching the soiled fabric. The holder includes a handle connected to the mop head by means of a universal joint.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a mop holder which is of sturdy design and construction and which can be produced at low cost.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mop holder which permits a soiled mop fabric to be removed therefrom without the necessity of the user touching the soiled fabric.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mop holder in which the lower fabric engaging surface of the holder lies substantially in a plane for effective engagement of the mop fabric with a floor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mop holder composed of substantially open framework so that any solid objects which may become lodged under the mop fabric will not tend to elevate the mop holder from the floor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention can be understood by reference to the following description having reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a mop holder embodying the invention and illustrating the pocketed mop fabric attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the mop shown in Figure l and illustrating in broken lines the latched positions of the wing members for holding a mop fabric and iliustrating in full lines the positions of those wing members while the mop fabric is being dropped therefrom;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 4 4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a portion of the mop holder and illustrating an optional type of reinforcement for a wing member.

'iice The mop fabric may be conventional and is desigfabric 6 comprises a piece of fabric 7 to the bottom of which are attached absorbent fringe yarns 8 by means of lines of stitching 9. The fabric 7 has oppositely facing pockets 10 and 11 on its upper surface which are arranged to receive the wing members hereinafter described.

A first wing member is designated generally by the reference numeral 12. The wing member 12 is an open, rigid framework of generally rectangular form, although its outer end 13 is preferably rounded as best illustrated in Figure 1.

One side 14 of the wing member 12 has a bearing 15 secured to its upper surface near the inner end thereof. The opposite side -16 of the wing member 12 has a bearing `17 secured to its upper surface near its inner end. The sides 14 and 16 are curved upwardly beyond the bearings 15 and 17 to position the end member 18 above the general plane of the remainder of the wing member 12. A portion of the length of the side 14 spaced outwardly from the bearing 1S is offset upwardly as indicated at 19. A similar portion of the side 16 is offset upwardly as indicated at 20. The bearings l5 and 17 are rotatably mounted on a central shaft 21.

The second wing member is designated generally by the reference numeral 22 and is generally U-shaped. The outer end 23 of wing member 22 is preferably curved as best illustrated in Figure l. The leg 24 of the wing member 22 is offset laterally inwardly at 25 and has a bearing member 26 secured to its upper surface. The opposite leg 27 of wing member 12 is similarly offset laterally inwardly at 23 and has a bearing member 29 secured to its upper surface. The bearing members 26 and 29 are rotatably and slidably mounted on the shaft 21 between the bearings 15 and 17. Beyond the bearing 26, the leg 24 curves laterally outwardly to provide a camming surface and latch portion 30 which lies beneath the upwardly offset portion 20 of the wing member 12 when the wings are in extended positions. The opposite leg 27 curves laterally outwardly in a similar manner to provide a camming surface and latch member 31 which underlies the upwardly offset portion 19 of the wing member 12. The inner end of the leg '24 extends laterally inwardly at 32 and then upwardly to form an upstanding release pin 33. The inner end of the leg 27 extends laterally inwardly in a similar manner at 34 and terminates in an upstanding release pin 35.

A hinge member 36 is secured to the mid portion of the shaft 21. A handle 37 is secured within a socket 38 which is pivotally connected to the hinge member 36 by means of a hinge pin 39 which lies in a plane normal to the shaft 21. The ability of the shaft 21 to rotate permits movement of the handle 37 as indicated by arrows in Figure 2. The hinge pin 39 permits movement of the handle 37 to either broken line position shown in Figure 3. Such movements may occur simultaneously to enable the handle to assume any desired position. A compression coil spring member 40 is positioned between the hinge member 36 and the bearing 29. A similar compression coil spring member 41 is positioned between the hinge member 36 and the bearing 26.

The mop holder and mop fabric are shown assembled for use in Figure l. When the mop fabric 6 becomes soiled, the user may hold the assembly above the floor or above a receiving container by means of the handle 37. The upstanding release pins 33 and 35 are then squeezed toward each other against the action of the spring members 4t) and 41 to the dotted line position illustrated in Figure 5. The latching mechanisms will thus be released and the wing members 12 and 22 will pivot downwardly from the broken line positions to the.

full line positions shown in Figure 2. The mop fabric then drops from the holder onto the floor or into the receiving container without any need for the user t touch the soiled fabric 6. A clean mop fabric 6 can then be placed on the iioor with the pockets 1i) and 11 exposed. The rounded ends 13 and 23 of the wing members 12 and 22 are then partially inserted into the pockets ffl and il, respectively. Downward pressure on the handle 37 will then cause the wing members 12 and 22 to swing outwardly into the pockets until the cam-like surfaces on the latching members 3Q and 3i cause those members to snap under the upwardly offset portions i9 and 20 of the wing member 12. The legs Z4 and 27 of the wing member 22 are at this time held in engagement with the lower surface of the end member 1S of the wing member 12. The wing members are thus held extended in a rigid assembly until the release pins 33 and 35 are again squeezed toward each other as described above.

Major portions of the wing members 12 and 22 lie in a common plane, which is desirable from the standpoint of causing the mop fabric 6 to effectively engage the floor. Any solid objects which may become lodged beneath the mop fabric 6 will in most instances find positions within the open framework of the wing members 12 or 22 and will not unduly interfere with the mopping action.

The structure of the wing members described above is satisfactory for mops of small or medium size. In mops of large size it has been found advisable to reinforce the wing members in the manner illustrated in Figure 5. A resilient reinforcing member, designated generally by the reference numeral 4t2, has its mid portion welded or otherwise secured to the end portion 23 of the wing member 22. The end portions 43 and 44 are welded or otherwise secured tothe legs 24 and 27, respectively. It will be noted that the reinforcing member i2 is curved at 41S and 6. This curved arrangement coupled with the resiliency of the reinforcing member 4,2 enables the wing member 22 to be reinforced without unduly restricting the ability to squeeze the release pins 33 and 35 toward each other to release the mop fabric. A similar reinforcing member may be used on the wing member l2.

It will be seen that the mop holder is of simple and sturdy construction. There are few relatively moving parts subject to wear, which contributes to the long life of the holder.

I have illustrated and described what I now consider to be the preferred embodiment of the invention. It will be understood that various alterations and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the broader scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus defined my invention, I claim:

l. A collapsible holder for a pocketed mop comprising a central shaft, a hinge member on the mid portion of said shaft, a handle pivotally connected to said hinge member about a pivotal axis lying in a plane normal to said shaft, a first wing member in the form of a generally rectangular, open, rigid framework, said first wing member having aligned first bearings fixed to its sides near the inner end thereof and rotatably positioned on said shaft, the sides of said first wing member curving upwardly at their inner ends to position the inner end member thereof above the general plane of said first wing member, the sides of said first wing member being offset upwardly from the general-plane of said first wing member for a portion of their length spaced outwardly from said shaft, a resilient, generally U-shaped, second wing member having aligned second bearings fixed to its legs near the open inner end thereof, said second bearings being rotatably and slidably positioned on said shaft laterally inwardly of said first bearings, the inner ends of said legs of said second wing member extending beneath said inner end of said first wing member and beneath said shaft and then curving laterally outwardly beneath Asaid `upwardly yoffset portions of the sides of said first wing member to latch said wing members in substantially a common plane, the inner ends of said legs then extending laterally inwardly to terminate in upstanding release pins which can be squeezed toward each other to release said latching action to permit both said wing members to pivot downwardly about said shaft.

2. A collapsible holder for a pocketed mop comprising a central shaft, a hinge member on the mid portion of said shaft, a handle pivotally connected to said hinge member about a pivotal axis lying in a plane normal to said shaft, a first wing member in the form of a generally rectangular, open, rigid framework, said rst wing member having aligned first bearings fixed to its sides near the inner end thereof and rotatably positioned on said shaft, the sides of said first wing member curving upwardly at their inner ends to position the inner end member thereof above the general plane of said first wing member, the sides of said first wing member being offset upwardly from the general plane of said first wing member for a portion of their length spaced outwardly from said shaft, a resilient, generally U-shaped, second wing member having aligned second bearings fixed to its legs near the open inner end thereof, said second bearings being rotatably and slidably positioned on said shaft laterally inwardly of said first bearings, a compression coil spring member positioned on said shaft between said hinge member 'and each of said second bearings, the inner ends of said legs of said second wing member extending beneath said inner end of said first wing member and beneath said shaft and then curving laterally outwardly beneath said upwardly offset portions of the sides of said rst wing member to latch said wing members in substantially a common plane, the inner ends of said legs then extending inwardly to terminate in upstanding release pins which can be squeezed toward each other against the action of said spring members to release said latching action to permit `both said wing members to pivot downwardly about said shaft.

3. A collapsible holder for a pocketed mop comprising a central shaft, a hinge member on the mid portion of said shaft, a handle pivotally connected to said hinge member about a pivotal axis lying in a plane normal to said shaft, a rst wing member in the form of a generally rectangular, open, rigid framework, said first wing member having alivned first bearings fixed to the upper surface of its sides near the inner end thereof and rotatably positioned on said shaft, the sides of said first wing member curving upwardly at their inner ends to position the inner end member thereof above the general plane of said first wing member, the sides of said first wing member being offset upwardly from the general plane of said first wing member for a portion of their length spaced outwardly from said shaft, a resilient, generally U-shaped, second wing member having aligned second bearings fixed to the upper surface of its legs near the open inner end thereof, said second bearings being rotatably and slidably positioned on said shaft laterally inwardly of said first bearings, a compression coil spring member positioned on said shaft between said hinge member and each of said second bearings, the inner ends of said legs of said second wing member extending beneath said inner end of said first wing member and beneath said shaft and then curving laterally outwardly beneath said upwardly offset portions of the sides of said first wing member to latch said wing members in substantially a common plane, the inner ends of said legs then extending laterally inwardly to terminate in upstanding release pins which can be squeezed 'toward each other against the action of said spring members to release said latc'ning action to permit both said wing members to pivot downwardly about said shaft.

4. A collapsible holder for a pocketed mop comprising a central shaft, a hinge member on the mid portion of said shaft, a handle pivotally connected lto Vsaid `hinge member, a first wing member in 4the 'form Aof an open, rigid framework, said rst wing member having aligned first bearings xed to the upper surface of its sides near the inner ends thereof and positioned on said shaft, the inner end portion of said iirst wing member curving upwardly to position such inner end portion above the general plane of said first Wing member, the sides of said first wing member being oifset upwardly from the general plane of said first wing member for a portion of their length spaced outwardly from said shaft, said inner `end portion of said iirst wing member and said upwardly offset portions thereof lying substantially in a plane parallel to the general plane of said iirst wing member, a resilient, generally U-shaped, second wing member having aligned second bearings xed to the upper surface of its legs near the open inner end thereof, said second bearings being rotatably and slidably positioned on said shaft laterally inwardly of said rst bearings, the inner ends of said legs of said second wing member extending beneath said inner end portion of said rst wing member and beneath said shaft and then curving laterally outwardly beneath said upwardly offset portions of the sides of said first Wing member to latch said wing members in substantially a common plane, the inner ends of said legs then extending laterally inwardly to terminate in upstanding release pins which can be squeezed toward each other to release said latching action to permit collapse of said holder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,392,741 Bonsall Oct. 4, 1921 1,192,547 Glover Mar. 5, 1940 2,192,861 Burchell Mar. 5, 1940 

